Vibrant and lush Kisii

By Lydia Limbe

Kisii Town is located on the southwestern part of Kenya. It is the main urban and commercial centre in the Gusii Highlands. According to 2008 estimates, Kisii has a population of 83,000 people.

However, it has a large dependent metropolitan population of more than 100,000, as per the latest National Population and Housing Census of 2009. The town is the headquarters of Kisii County, and it is a vibrant economic hub.

Kisii Municipality sits right at the centre of the Western Kenya tourist circuit. While in Kisii, one can visit the famous soap stone attraction, the Tabaka Soapstone Carvings.

This famous place traces its beginnings to 1885 when carving began. The area is 25 square kilometres wide and is estimated by the Mines and Geological Department to be 800m deep.

Soap Stones

Soap stones grace many homes around the world and have made the town famous. The products range from outstanding sculptors to amazing artefacts that beautify homes and offices internationally.

From Kisii, one can also easily access the Masai Mara Game Reserve, whose ecosystem holds one of the highest lion densities in the world. More than two million wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle migrate annually. It also hosts more than 95 species of mammals and 570 recorded bird species. 

Just 65km from Kisii sits Lambwe Valley Game Reserve, which is also known as Ruma National Park, and the entire Lake Victoria Basin. The park lies on Lambwe Valley and is bordered by the Kanyamwa Escarpment as well as Gwassi, Sumba and Ruri hills. Ruma is home to the rare Roan antelope, and covers an area of 120 square kilometres.

Not far from Kisii is Kisumu city where visitors can sample offerings at Hippo Point, Dunga Wetlands, Impala Park, the famous Winam Gulf and Lake Victoria. The Impala Park in Kisumu hosts caged animals, and impalas graze along the way to Kit Mikayi.

Kisii Town continues to serve the larger South Nyanza and Trans Mara area of western Narok County in terms of commerce.

Captivating Vegetation

One thing that is undoubtedly eye catching to a first time visitor is the captivating hilly and vegetation sceneries. Being a hilly town one can have a perfect scenic view of the town from key points such as Nyanchwa, Sameta and Manga hills.

Accommodation is available, not only in Kisii, but also in the surrounding towns like Nyamira and Kisumu, ranging from Sh2,500 – Sh10,000 per person, bed and breakfast. The accommodation facilities can be found in the town centre and the outskirts.

One of the oldest hotels in the town centre is Kisii Hotel. It has basic accommodation ideal for economy tourists, back packers and in the near future, campers.

Another hotel in town is St. Vincents Clioster. It’s near a mosque, and has all the modern facilities of a hotel. On the outskirts of the town, Blue Nile Hotel, which is on the Kisii-Migori road, Mash Park Hotel, on the western edge of the town, as well as Ufanisi Resort, which is built on a hilly tropical forest overlooking Kisii town.